Written Answers Wednesday 10 December 2008

Scottish Executive

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive where the strongest populations of the native black honeybee are located.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is not aware of any wild populations of this bee in Scotland.

Crime

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the systems and codes used for capturing and recording crime figures are not generic across police boards.

Kenny MacAskill: Police forces in Scotland have their own reporting systems and structures in place that they use to capture and record crimes and offences reported to them. The systems that each police force use are at their own discretion.

  In terms of the actual recording of crimes, the Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) was introduced throughout all Scottish police forces on 1 April 2004. The main aim of this was to provide a more victim orientated approach that ensures greater consistency and uniformity in crime recording standards throughout Scotland. Further to this, the list of crime codes used to record crimes is consistent across all police forces in Scotland, and allows Scotland-level statistics to be created. This ultimately ensures a greater degree of comparability between forces than there was previously.

Crime

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reform the rules regarding crime reporting to improve consistency and the prospects for cross comparison across Scotland.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) was introduced throughout all Scottish Police Forces on 1 April 2004. The main aim of this was to provide a more victim-orientated approach that ensured uniformity in crime recording standards throughout Scotland. Further to this, the list of crime codes used to record crimes is consistent across all police forces in Scotland, and allows Scotland-level statistics to be created. This ultimately ensures a greater degree of comparability between forces than there was previously.

  The Scottish Crime Registrars Group (SCRG), created to oversee change in all forces, has helped achieve a standardised approach to recording. The group consists of the eight police force crime registrars, as well as representatives from British Transport Police, the Ministry of Defence Police and the Justice Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government. The group meets every two months to review, maintain and improve the SCRS and its use and implementation.

  The Scottish Government continually strives to improve the way in which crimes and offences are recorded in Scotland, and will work with all police forces across Scotland, the SCRG and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to ensure that the rules in place ensure as much consistency and uniformity as possible.

Crime

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why some police boards are able to report on the incidence of fuel theft while others do not collect such information.

Kenny MacAskill: The detailed classification of crimes and offences used by the Scottish Government and the eight police forces across Scotland to collect criminal statistics records around 360 separate offences. This ensures consistency and uniformity in crime recording standards throughout Scotland. Below this level it is a matter for police forces to decide if more detailed classifications are required to support local operational requirements.

  A Scottish Crime Registrars Group Counting Rules Sub-Group has been set up and is presently working towards the introduction of additional markers on crime records to allow such information to be collected.

Early Years Framework

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will launch its Early Years Framework.

Adam Ingram: I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government and COSLA are launching the Early Years Framework today. The document is available at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/earlyyearsframework.

  And a copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47084)

  The Early Years Framework represents a radical approach to improving a range of health, education and wider social outcomes and tackling the inequalities of opportunity which have plagued Scotland for too long. It has been developed as a partnership between national and local government and we are jointly committed to continuing this partnership as we proceed with implementation.

Environment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the promotion of a path around the coast that would link existing paths and create opportunities for the development of new ones.

Michael Russell: We remain committed to the development and promotion of a network of paths throughout Scotland, including paths around the coast. Access authorities have been provided with powers under the land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to prepare Core Paths Plans sufficient for the purpose of giving the public reasonable access throughout their area.

  Scottish Natural Heritage is at present consulting on a Paths Policy Statement for Scotland’s paths of all kinds and it seeks views as to where the greatest effort is needed to improve path resources and increase participation.

Film Industry

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects the UK Film Council to distribute in Scotland in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11, (d) 2011-12 and (e) 2012-13.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish Screen has advised that the UK Film Council cannot provide the particular information requested. The UK Film Council provides funding both directly, through targeted funding schemes in areas such as development, production, distribution and exhibition, and indirectly via funded partners such as Skillset and the British Film Institute. In the current financial year, Skillset has awarded £360,911.08 to date in grants to Scotland-based organisations and individuals. In the first nine months of the current financial year £855,818.25 of targeted funding, which is application based, was awarded by the UK Film Council to Scotland.

  The UK Film Council announced last year that it had allocated £1.88 million, over three years to 2010-11, to support the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

  Scottish Screen and the UK Film Council work together to support the film industry in Scotland, often supporting the same films and projects.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies it is envisaged will be involved in bidding for leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The bidding process for any management lease would be subject to public procurement rules. It is not possible to predict the number of potential bidders at this stage.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is envisaged that leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate will be released in one block or in smaller parcels.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  No decisions have therefore been taken on the size of any blocks which may be leased, although there may be good arguments for a single lease. Forestry Commission Scotland will be considering a range of options on this aspect during its review.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages allowing foreign companies to bid for leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The bidding process for any lease would be subject to public procurement rules, which include compliance with international obligations. Therefore, foreign companies are free to bid.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that it envisages that leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate will be for up to 75 years.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  No decisions have therefore been taken on the length of any leasing arrangement, although there may be good arguments for it lasting several decades. Forestry Commission Scotland will be considering a range of options on this aspect as part of its review.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it envisages will be inserted into the leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate to safeguard biodiversity, access, leisure and recreation.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland’s deliberations on the range and nature of the safeguards to be included in any leases.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of monitoring it will put in place to assess to what extent biodiversity, access, leisure and recreation are safeguarded if management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest estate are subject to leasing.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland’s deliberations on the level of monitoring required to assess the extent to which biodiversity, access, leisure and recreation were safeguarded under a lease.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the transfer of Forestry Commission assets and land in perpetuity to a not-for-profit trust is an option being considered by the Scottish Government, as set out on page six of the paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill .

Michael Russell: As the consultation document indicates, this is one of the options to be considered as part of the consultation exercise and the options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discounted the option of transferring assets and land in perpetuity to a not-for-profit trust, as set out on page six of the paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill .

Michael Russell: No.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is envisaged that under the option of transferring assets and land in perpetuity to a not-for-profit trust, as set out on page six of the paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill , such a trust would be prevented from selling on any land that it was given to manage.

Michael Russell: Under one option set out in the consultation paper, a not-for-profit trust could be given the task of holding in perpetuity the national forest estate land that had been leased. A trust could, however, also be given flexibility to sell any newly created woodland, which it had established using the proceeds of a lease, in order to generate funds to create more woodland. However no decision on that or any other actions possible for a trust have been made.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that there will be no redundancies as a result of proposals for leasing out management and cutting right over parts of the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  There will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of any leasing arrangement arising from the consultation exercise and wider options review.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are currently estimated to work in the areas identified under proposals for leasing out management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  It is therefore too early to say how many staff are working in the areas which might be selected for leasing, should that particular option be taken forward.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of the national forest estate have been considered for leasing out or transfer to a public trust.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights, and transferring the proceeds to a not-for-profit trust for investment in woodland creation, are potential options for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. These options are included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  It is therefore too early to say which geographical areas would be considered for leasing, but they are likely to be those parts of the national forest estate where timber production is the main objective, and where public benefits such as conservation, community engagement and recreation are relatively less significant.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what calculations have been carried out to establish how much of the national forest estate could be bought.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The amount of land which could be appropriate for leasing is a key consideration in the consultation exercise and options review.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of income is predicted to be raised through the proposal that management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest be leased out.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The income raised from a lease would depend upon a range of factors including the area that it covered and its terms. There may be good arguments for a lease of up to about 25% of the national forest estate, we have taken no decisions on this. The consultation exercise and options review will help inform deliberations on this issue.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in which financial year it is anticipated that income will be generated by leasing out management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The timescale for the generation of income from the leasing option will depend on the decisions taken following the options review and consultation exercise, as well as the availability of the necessary legal powers.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the business case on which proposals are based for the leasing out of management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The options review will be published after we have had the opportunity to consider it.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the impact of the current economic downturn has been factored into the financial assumptions behind the proposals for the leasing out of at least 25% of the national forest estate.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The impact of the current economic downturn is one of the many factors that will influence our decision on the leasing option.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies (a) are being planned, (b) are in progress and (c) have been carried out to identify potential sites for new woodlands.

Michael Russell: At a national level, research on the potential for woodland expansion was commissioned to support the revision of the Scottish Forestry Strategy in 2006. This research is published and can be viewed at:  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6MGFKY . This research was further analysed for the preparation of a consultation document on woodland expansion in Scotland. The consultation and analysis of responses can also be viewed at:

  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7FWEQ5.

  The woodland expansion document will feed in to a Land Use Project recently launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, this document is available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/new-research-projects/social-research/Rural-Land-Use-Study).

  Planning Circular 9/1999 encourages local authorities to develop Indicative Forestry Strategies at regional level. There is now coverage of much of Scotland, and these regional strategies have been prepared on the basis of local studies of potential for new woodland creation.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet representatives of the Kinloch Rannoch community regarding the possible reinstatement of an out-of-hours GP service.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of primary medical services in Kinloch Rannoch is a matter for NHS Tayside. I am aware of the detailed consideration by NHS Tayside of options to supplement the existing out-of-hours service for Kinloch Rannoch with a First Responders Scheme. I am also aware that the local community remain concerned about these services and would encourage them to continue to engage with NHS Tayside on the matter.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the process followed by NHS Tayside and its decision to end the out-of-hours GP service in Kinloch Rannoch.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Tayside did not end the out-of-hours GP service in Kinloch Rannoch. The then GP chose to opt out of the provision of out-of-hours services. This was contested by NHS Tayside and referred to an independent assessment panel. The panel upheld the case for opt out. This was all carried out in terms of the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts)(Scotland) Regulations 2004. As a result, NHS Tayside now directly provides the out-of-hours services for Kinloch Rannoch.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene and reintroduce an out-of-hours GP service in Kinloch Rannoch.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of primary medical services in Kinloch Rannoch is a matter for NHS Tayside. NHS Tayside directly provides the out-of-hours service that covers Kinloch Rannoch and I am aware of the detailed consideration by NHS Tayside of options to supplement that existing service with a First Responders Scheme. I am also aware that the local community remain concerned about these services and I shall ask NHS Tayside to continue to engage with the local community on the matter.

General Practitioners

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs who work out-of-hours can offer fentanyl patches for the purposes of palliative care.

Nicola Sturgeon: GPs who work out-of-hours are able to prescribe fentanyl patches for palliative care if, in their clinical judgement, they consider that these patches are the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the country origin was of the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in national list and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Michael Russell: The seed originated from Idaho, United States of America.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what type of plant breeding methods were employed to produce the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Michael Russell: The contaminated seed originated from a conventional breeding programme undertaken in Idaho, United States of America.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the location is of the seed production ground that produced the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, and what its proximity is to any GM oilseed rape fields.

Michael Russell: The new varieties of oilseed rape seed were imported from a breeder who produced the seed at a site in Idaho, United States of America.

  A review of this incident will be carried out, to further investigate the circumstances of this case.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures were used to prevent contamination of the seed used to produce the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, during cultivation and post harvest.

Michael Russell: The Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18/EC stipulates that no GMO may be released into the environment unless it has been authorised. The GMO in question had not been authorised for cultivation and the release represents a technical breach of the Directive.

  The contaminated seed originated from a conventional breeding programme undertaken in Idaho, United States of America.

  A review will be carried out to examine, in more detail, how the unauthorised release occurred.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the GM contamination of oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, arose from cross-pollination or as a result of co-mixing GM and non-GM seeds before sowing or after harvest.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, arose from an experimental release in their country of origin.

Michael Russell: The contaminated seed was imported into the UK from Idaho, United States of America. It had been produced through a conventional breeding programme and it is not known how the original source became contaminated.

  A review will be carried out to examine in more detail, how the unauthorised release occurred.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of the GM traits found in the contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, and which companies produced them.

Michael Russell: The contaminating GMO has been identified as GT73, a herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape owned by Monsanto Europe S.A.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of GM contamination was present in the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Michael Russell: The seeds sown in the commercial trial sites in Scotland, were found to contain very low levels (0.05%) of GT73 herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds, found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, were planted before the results of GM scanning were available.

Michael Russell: The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001 prescribe the requirements for National Listing. However, the Regulations do not require seeds to be tested for accidental GM presence. The organiser of the trial arranged for a sample to be tested since it had been imported from Idaho, United States of America, where GM varieties are commercially grown.

  A review will be carried out which will identify whether further steps need to be taken.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to prevent further GM contamination from the seed lot responsible for the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Michael Russell: Under guidance and advice provided by the Scottish Government’s GM Inspectorate, the trials at three sites in Scotland, two in Aberdeen and one in Arbroath, have been destroyed by the application of a contact herbicide. The Scottish Government GM Inspectorate have also advised the trial operators that oilseed rape should not be grown on affected sites for a minimum of two years and they will continue to monitor the situation.

  Additional seed lots, imported by the same importing company, have also been traced and dealt with.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether other seed lots from the same sources and countries of origin as the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, have been tested for GM presence and with what results.

Michael Russell: Yes, nine additional seed lots of winter oilseed rape seed, entered into the National List trials by the importing company, have been tested for GM presence. Five were found to be contaminated with genetically modified herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape and the trial plots were destroyed by the application of a contact herbicide. In addition, two varieties of spring oilseed rape and varieties of mustard also submitted into the trials by the same company have been tested, but none were found to be contaminated.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to protect seed imports destined for commercial crop production following the discovery of GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Michael Russell: The Seed Marketing Regulations require that imports of over 2kgs of seed from Third countries, should be disclosed to Scottish ministers. In addition, the Scottish Government conducts a voluntary audit of companies importing seed directly into Scotland. Most imported seed (99%) sown in Scotland is imported into the UK through English ports. This seed is covered by a seed audit programme undertaken by the Central Science Laboratory in York.

  Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section115, paragraph 3(d), provides a legal basis for Inspectors to take samples where there are grounds of suspicion that there are genetically modified organisms.

Genetically Modified Crops

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be liable for the costs of dealing with the contamination and loss of trial results from the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Michael Russell: This is a matter for the importer of the seed and the trials organiser. The Scottish Government understands that the costs of dealing with the contamination and loss of the trial results from the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seed privately run trials, will be incurred by the importing seed company. The importing company will also incur costs with the withdrawal of the seed from the National List trials and the plot destruction of all sites.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the £1.4 million announced on 27 November 2008 to fund the purchase of suitable unsold housing stock from the private sector in Falkirk and Perth and Kinross, how much below market value is being paid on average.

Stewart Maxwell: An average saving of 19% below market value will be achieved for the 28 properties.

Housing

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17219 by Stewart Maxwell on 5 November 2008, whether it will elaborate on the criteria being applied for distribution of the accelerated funding for £100 million for affordable housing investment.

Stewart Maxwell: The criteria set out in the answer to S3W-17219 continue to be applied for distribution of the accelerated funding.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Strathclyde Police incident team investigating the deaths of patients from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital was established.

Kenny MacAskill: A Detective Superintendent from Strathclyde Police has been involved in this matter since July 2008. In early September, following discussions with the Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll and Clyde, the police were asked to examine the medical records of all patients involved and further assess the circumstances before a police investigation could be instructed. In late September 2008, officers from Strathclyde Police met with representatives of Kent Constabulary who had been involved in the investigation a similar outbreak at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. The purpose of that meeting was to scope the extent of an investigation, access the specialist assistance and knowledge required to undertake such an investigation and to benefit from the experience gained by Kent officers.

  The incident room was established at Dumbarton Police Office on 20 November 2008, following consultation with the Area Procurator Fiscal and after appropriate preparatory work had been scoped by senior detective officers.

Justice

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest-referral schemes are funded on contracts of (a) less than three years and (b) three years or more and how many are funded on permanent contracts.

Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government funding towards the cost of operating arrest referral schemes is provided under section 27 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Local authorities as the ultimate recipients of section 27 funding are responsible for drawing up any contractual arrangements which might be needed in delivering arrest referral schemes within their areas. Information on such contracts is not held centrally.

  In common with other areas of Government funding, section 27 grant is linked to the duration of the 2007 Spending Review, which covers the financial years to end March 2011.

Licensing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17380 by Kenny MacAskill on 13 November 2008, how many of the 1,180 off-sales premises received repeat test-purchase visits.

Kenny MacAskill: Under the standard procedures laid for test purchasing of alcohol and other age-restricted products (A Practical Guide To Test Purchasing in Scotland which can be accessed on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/25155751/0 ) agreed by the Scottish Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPOS), trading standards, and the Crown Office Prosecution Fiscal Service (COPFS), those 167 premises which failed the first test were revisited within a few weeks. These revisits resulted in 15 double failures. Test purchasing is just one of many tools available to the police to crack down on underage drinking.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with, or indications from, NHS Lanarkshire on why it was necessary to redirect medical or surgical GP calls from Hairmyres Hospital accident and emergency department to other NHS Lanarkshire sites during 157 time periods between July 2006 and July 2008.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with, or indications from, NHS Lanarkshire on why it was necessary to redirect medical or surgical GP calls from Wishaw General Hospital accident and emergency department to other NHS Lanarkshire sites during 99 time periods between July 2006 and July 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to manage emergency medical and surgical GP referrals across its acute hospital network as appropriate. Boards plan to effectively manage emergency referrals across their hospital networks during periods of high demand. This government’s decision to maintain and develop accident and emergency services across the three main hospital sites in Lanarkshire has protected the capacity of the local hospital network and ensures that patients continue to receive the treatment they require without delay.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new single room-only policy for new or substantially refurbished hospitals will include the provision of en suite toilet, bath or shower, and hand basin facilities.

Nicola Sturgeon: My decision was based on the definition of a single room produced by the Single Room Provision Steering Group and is contained within their report which can be found at www.scotland.gsi.gov.uk/haitaskforce . This will be used for inclusion in the technical guidance that is being prepared by Health Facilities Scotland. The definition is as follows:

  A room with space for one patient which normally contains as a minimum a bed, locker, clinical wash-hand basin and also a sanitary facility comprising a toilet, shower and wash-hand basin.

Rivers

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns over the proposal to extract significant quantities of water from the River Spey.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government expects any proposals to be considered according to the relevant procedures. Abstractions of water are regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005. SEPA fully assesses the risk to the water environment by the carrying on of a controlled activity before determining a licence application. Applicants must also advertise their proposals where SEPA considers the controlled activity may have a significant adverse impact on the water environment. SEPA considers written representations from objectors in response to such advertisements when determining an application, and notifies objectors of their right to ask Scottish ministers to call in the application for their own determination.

Rivers

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been carried out of the effect that the extraction of large quantities of water from the River Spey may have on dependant species.

Michael Russell: Regulation 84B of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (the 1994 Regulations) requires the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), as the competent authority, to consider Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (CAR) consents under Regulation 48 and 49 of the 1994 Regulations where there is likely to be a significant effect on a European site. Should that be the case, SEPA must undertake an appropriate assessment in view of the site’s conservation objectives and may only give consent having first ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the European site (subject to the provisions of regulation 49 which allow for the consideration of imperative reasons of overriding public interest in certain circumstances).

  Scottish Water has recently applied to SEPA for a new water abstraction licence for the Aviemore public water supply. In view of the designation of the River Spey as a Special Area of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive, SEPA has advised that it has yet to complete an appropriate assessment for this application under the 1994 Regulations.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to discuss the outcome of the Aviemore resort hotels masterplan planning application that was considered by Cairngorm National Park Authority in December 2007; who attended these meetings; when they took place, and what has happened since to clarify the process of flood risk assessment and ministerial intervention in the planning system.

Michael Russell: There have been no meetings or subsequent discussions between the Scottish Government and SEPA on these issues.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, on how many occasions since 7 December 2007 (a) the Minister for Environment or (b) any other minister has contacted the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or any other official or board member of SEPA in relation to any live planning application; what the nature of such contact was, and what the outcomes were.

Michael Russell: Neither the Minister for Environment nor any other Scottish Government minister acting in their ministerial capacity has had any such contacts.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 27 November 2007 the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has contacted the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or any other official or board member of SEPA in relation to any live planning application; what the nature of such contact was, and what the outcomes were.

Michael Russell: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment acting in his ministerial capacity has had no such contacts.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether on 4 December 2007 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency agreed to the contents of a letter in which it gave its consent to the approval of the planning application put forward by Aviemore resort hotels in the absence of a satisfactory flood risk assessment; whether this letter was issued, and, if so, to whom.

Michael Russell: This is an operational issue for SEPA, and I have asked the Chief Executive, Campbell Gemmell, to write to you.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether approval of the planning application put forward by Aviemore resorts hotels in the absence of a satisfactory flood risk assessment would, in the opinion of (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) the Chief Planner, have been in breach of the provisions of Scottish Planning Policy 7: Planning and Flooding (SPP7).

Michael Russell: The planning application referred to was at all times a matter for the Cairngorms National Park Authority to determine. As the application was not notified to Scottish ministers it would be inappropriate to comment on the details.

Scottish Government Ministers

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the events to which the major events strategy, within the responsibilities of the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, applies.

Linda Fabiani: Events of all kinds are a valuable way of driving sustainable economic growth, promoting Scotland and showcasing Scotland on a world stage. Events such as Edinburgh’s Festivals, the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, Scotland’s Winter Festivals, Homecoming Scotland, and pan-Scotland events to celebrate St Andrew’s Day are all important parts of Scotland’s current and future events calendar, but there is no single, agreed definition of what constitutes a "major event." Our approach involves broadening and expanding Scotland’s portfolio of events and taking new opportunities as they arise.

  Lead responsibility for individual events cuts across a number of ministerial portfolios, including in particular the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, the Minister for Communities and Sport, and the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism. The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has oversight of the Scottish Government’s overall strategy for events.

  The Scottish Government works with a number of partners to maximise the impact of Scotland’s portfolio of events. Our partners include EventScotland, which published its strategy for Scotland’s events industry, Scotland – the Perfect Stage, on 2 December. Copies of The Perfect Stage are available to view and download at www.eventscotland.org.

Scottish Ministerial Code

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures ministers, including the First Minister, would follow to correct themselves were they to have given misleading information to the Parliament.

Bruce Crawford: Section 1.1(c) of the Scottish Ministerial Code would apply in such instances.

Sex Offenders

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to be its policy that serious sex offenders from all of Scotland serve their prison sentences at a single specialist unit.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is not the policy of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) that all serious sex offenders serve their sentence at a single specialist unit. Whilst the majority of those offenders who currently serve their sentence at HM Prison Peterhead are sex offenders, there are also significant numbers held at HM Prisons Edinburgh, Barlinnie and Dumfries and also HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont. Smaller numbers serving short sentences or in preparation for imminent release are also held at other establishments.

  SPS will continue to hold sex offenders at different sites with adequate numbers at each site to support the development of appropriate expertise to work effectively with them, support risk assessment processes and the delivery of Sex Offender Treatment Programmes.

  SPS have announced that the new prison for the north east, HM Prison Grampian, will be a community facing prison taking a range of tried and untried prisoners from the region.

Sport

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provides to amateur boxing clubs, broken down by (a) club, (b) amount and (c) funding stream.

Stewart Maxwell: In the current financial year Inverness Boxing Club has received £2,000 from sportscotland’s Exchequer funded Sportsmatch programme. Girvan Youth Trust was also awarded £10,949 from the YouthLink strand of the Cashback for Communities initiative to establish an amateur boxing club in the town.

Sport

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects UK Sport to distribute in Scotland in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11, (d) 2011-12 and (e) 2012-13.

Stewart Maxwell: UK Sport expects to distribute approximately £6.7 million in 2008-09 to support Scottish athletes, although they may not necessarily be based in Scotland. It will also provide investment of £520,000 in UK Governing Body posts and programme costs based in Scotland.

  On 3 December 2008 UK Sport confirmed investment of £292 million to be allocated to 19 Olympic and 14 Paralympic sports for 2009-10 to 2012-13. As there are a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports still to have their funding confirmed by UK Sport it is not currently possible to determine how much of this funding will be distributed in Scotland.